PROSECUTORS have been urged to move quickly to give answers to the families of the two victims of last December’s fatal fire at Cameron House Hotel on Loch Lomond.
More than a year after the blaze which claimed the lives of Richard Dyson, 38, and 32-year-old Simon Midgley, the area’s MSP and MP have united to call for the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal Service to provide definitive answers to the victims’ families, and the wider public, about the cause of the tragedy.
Owners of the hotel marked the anniversary of the fire with a private commemoration last week.
The area’s MSP, Jackie Baillie, said: “I know that people will, rightly, be frustrated by the unanswered questions surrounding the fatal fire at Cameron House last Christmas.
“My thoughts are with the families of the victims at this difficult time of year.
“I understand that Police Scotland have sent their initial report to the Crown Office and that work is ongoing across a number of agencies to ensure that all evidence is gathered and that all questions are answered.
“This will take time, but it is important to get this right.
“I want to thank our hard working police officers for all that they have done during the course of the investigation and for the role they have played in supporting the victims’ families.”
Calls for an urgent update on the progress of the inquiry were also made by West Dunbartonshire’s MP, Martin Docherty-Hughes, who said:“The families deserve answers and I would urge the Crown Office and Procurator Fiscal to provide clarity on the progress of enquiries into the fire.
“The full facts about what happened on that tragic day must be made clear as quickly as possible.”
More than 70 firefighters tackled the blaze on December 18, 2017, and 200 guests were evacuated.
Simon Midgely’s mum Jane, from Nottinghamshire, has pressed her frustration about the length of time being taken to carry out the investigation.
She previously said: “My heart is absolutely broken. I have hundreds of questions I want answered.”
A Crown Office spokesman said: “The Procurator Fiscal has received reports in connection with the deaths of Simon Midgely and Richard Dyson at the Cameron House Hotel, Loch Lomond on December 18, 2017.
“The investigation into the deaths by Police Scotland, under the direction of the Scottish Fatalities Investigation Unit (SFIU), is ongoing and the families will continue to be kept updated in relation to any significant developments.”
A Police Scotland spokesperson said: “The police investigation is ongoing.”
Plans to rebuild the fire damaged section of Cameron House were published last month.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here